Circuit closure for textile machines, etc.



Dec. 25, 1951 Filed March 1, 1948 A. EISTEVENS CIRCUIT CLOSURE FORTEXTILE MACHINES, ETC

2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET l 3 INVENTOR. J

Dec. 25, 1951 A. E. STEVENS 2,580,136 CIRCUIT CLOSURE FOR TEXTILEMACHINES, ETC Filed March 1, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Dec. 25, 1951UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CLOSURE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES, ETC.

1 Claim.

My invention relates to stop motion operators, signals and the like andhas particular reference to such as are operated upon failure of a worksupply to a machine, as for instance, material being fed to a sewingmachine. It is to be under- 1sitood, however, that the device has otherapplicaons.

In commercial shops using automatically operable, power driven sewingmachines one operator will necessarily have to attend to a battery ofmachines. Thus, it frequently happens that the material being suppliedto one machine will be exhausted before the operator realizes what ishappening, or there will be occasions when torn material will reach amachine. Under either of these circumstances the sewing machine willcontinue to operate unless manually stopped by the operator. It istherefore the primary object of the instant invention to provide a verysimple, highly efficient and automatically operable means for Stopping asewing machine when the material supplied thereto runs out or a tear orgap appears in such material.

Additionally, I aim to provide a device for the purpose indicated whichcan be readily installed in operative position clear of the table orother surface upon which the sewing machine is mounted so as to leavesuch surface free for use of the operator and also to avoid interferencewith the passage of the material to be sewed.

Still another obiect of the invention is to provide a mater alsupply-controlled stop motion operator or the like for sewin machineswhich incorporates an e ectrical circuit control switch and wherein thelatter and associated working parts are enclosed so as to uard a ainstthe em ssion of sparks which would be likely to i nite lint. etc., whichis necessarily present in at least some quantity wherever large scalesewing is being carried on.

Additionally, the invention contemplates a device which may andpreferably does embodv more than one circuit controlling unit so as tobe applicable in instances where separate. laterally spaced lengths ofmaterial are being fed to separate needles of a sewing machine. Aninstance of this would be curtain ruille production when two ruffles areproduced at the same time using adjacent needles of the same sewingmachine.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by drawings and descriptivematter disclosing the now preferred example of my inventive concept.

It should be understood, however, that the ill-- vention is not limitedto the particular expression disclosed herein and that various changesand modifications may be made in the illustrated example withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimedhereinafter.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used todesignate the same parts wherever they appear Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview illustrating a portion of a commercial two-needle sewing machine,its supporting table and the disposition of my device in operativerelationship to the machine and the two lines of curtain ruille fabricbeing supplied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of my novel unit in association with aportion of the fabric guide means and the sewing machine supportingtable.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the unit detached from the sewingmachine-supporting table but showing the mounting bracket which isemployed for attachment of the unit;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view looking into the mechanism compartmentof one of the easing sections;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the companion casingsection and a portion of the supporting bracket;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rear orbracket-engaged end of the unit;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 showing afeeler arm-confining element; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram disclosing the circuits employed.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters and turning first toFig. 1, numeral 18 indicates the head of a standard type of twoneedlecommercial sewing machine having the laterally spaced, independentlyoperated needles H, the threads or ends supplied to the needles beingindicated by reference character l2.

In the Fig. l illustration the machine is being employed in theproduction of curtain ruffles and each of the needles II is having fedto it a separate length of ruffle material I 3.

As shown, the respective lengths of rufile material is are each guidedto the related needle I I by means of spaced, oppositely turned andupwardly inclined book cover-like guide elements each of which comprisesthe inner and outer portions |5, |6, respectively. Each guide provides amaterial passage space M extending for a substantial distance outwardlyfrom the adjacent hinge portions of the book cover-like guide portionsl5, IS. The vertical space between the hinge portions of the pair ofrufiie guides I5, I3 is indicated by reference character IT.

The respective guides l5, l6 are supported by a frame which includes theupper horizontal member I8 which is secured at its ends to the inclinedupper ends 2|! of brackets whose horizontal foot portions 2| are screwedor otherwise secured to the sewin machine table or the like 23 (see 22).

Metal strips 24 will be suitably secured to the frame member is and saidstrips have inturned guide-confining ends 24a adapted to overlie top andbottom surface portions of the outer guideproviding portions I6.

My'fabric run out detector unit is generally indicated by numeral 35 inFig. 1. The means for attaching it to the sewing machine support ortable 23 comprises the cleat-like strip of metal 25 which is screwed tothe table surface as indicated by '25 in Fig. 2. The elongated arm of anL--'bracke't 27 has a lineal slot 29 adjacent its outer end which isadapted to receive the lineally spaced machine screws 28 whose shankstake in tapped holes adjacent the outer end of the cleat 25. Theupstanding foot 21a detachably carries the casing of my unit 30, as willbe presently explained.

The detector unit .comprehends a two-part casing, as will be indicatedbyreference to Fig. 6,

and Fig. discloses the casing section 3| as being wall 34, and rear wall35 which latter is adja-..

cent the foot portion 21. .1. of bracket 27. One side of the section 3|is open while the other is defined by the side wall 36.

The other section of the two-part casing of the unit is indicated by 31and is shown in Fig. 4.

Said casing section 3? has the top wall 38, bottom wall 39, front wall40, rear wall 4|, and side wall 42, which latter forms one outer side ofthe casing as indicated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 indicates that the top Wall 38 of the casing section 31 has theheavy fibre shelf-like element 43, which latter, as shown in Fig. 6,overlies and provides a shock-absorbing cover for the top wall 32 of thecompanion casingsection 3!. This is important because otherwise a blowon casin 35 from above might result in a short circuit.

The bracket-carried casing section 3| of Fig. 5 is illustrated as havingits front wall provided with a nut 44a which is welded to the innersurface of same at a point adjacent the bottom wall 33. This nut isadapted to receive the shank of a clamp screw 44 which. when the casinsections 3|, 31are assembled, as in Fig. 6, is adapted to enter the edgeslot 40a in the front wall 40 of the casing section 3.7 of Fig. 4. Theinner surface of the rear wall of the bracket-carried casing section haswelded thereto adjacent the top wall 32 a nut 45a which is adapted toreceive the shank of the screw 45 which secures casing section 32 to thefoot 21a of the bracket 21. As indicated in Fig. 4, the rear wall 4| ofcasing section 37 has the edge slot 4|a to receive the shank of bracketscrew 45 when casing sections 3| and 31 are assembled.

Regarding the matter of attachment of bracket foot 21a to casing section3| (Fig. 5) the bracket foot 21a has a lineal slot 46 xtending:therethrough for reception of the shank of screw 45.

It will be obvious that the provision of slot 46 in bracket foot 210.enables the unit 30 to be adjusted vertically so that the feelerelements (to be referred to later) of the unit will make proper contactwith the fabric I3 which is being fed to the sewing machine needles Awasher 4'! is disposed on the shank of the screw and interposed betweenthe head of the same and the proximate face of the bracket foot 21a.This may be a spring washer so as to assure against rocking of thecasing 30.

Inasmuch as the feeler arm and switch elements of each of the casingsections 3|, 3'! are identical, a description of one will suffice forboth.

Fig. 6 shows that each casing section 3|, 31 has its side wall providedwith an outwardly extending bearing 48 carrying a sleeve 49 whichprojects through said respective walls 36, 42. .The sleeves 45 arepreferably soldered or otherwise made fast in bearings 48.

Journalled in each of the bearing sleeves 49 is a shaft which is of alength to extend beyond both the inner and outer ends of the relatedsleeve '49.

The outer end of each of the rock shafts '55 receives the bearing end 5|of a feeler arm 52 which is twisted as at 52a to provide the horizontalouter portion 525 whose terminal is weighted as indicated at 53 by meansof solder or the like. A set screw 55 serves to clamp the feeler armbearings 5| on the outer end of the related shaft 50.

Now as to the 'feeler arm-controlled switches and having reference toFigs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that "the inner end of each shaft 50has secured thereon a collar 54 which is made fast to the inner end ofsaid shaft 50 by means of a 'set screw '55.

Secured to each collar 54 is the bight portion of 'a U-shaped bracket 56whose outwardly extended arms 56a detachably grip the tubular body of aconventional mercury switch 5'2".

It should be noted that axial movement of each shaft 5|! is prevented byengagement of collar 54 with the inner end of the related sleeve '45 inconjunction with engagement of the arm bearing 5| with the outer end ofsaid sleeve.

Eachmercury switch 51 is conventional, as has been indicated, and hasprojecting through insulation into one end of its tubular body (see Fig.9) the electrically spaced circuit gap-defining electrodes or terminals58. These terminals 58 have connection with the respective circuit wires59 and 30 in the case of the switch of casing section 3| (see Fig. 5)while the corresponding wires, of the switch of easing section 3? (seeFig. 4) are indicated at 59a, 60a. In each instance the wires 59, 60 or59a, 50a lead outwardly through a hole 6| in the side wall 36 '(or 42)of the associated casing section 3'! (or 3|). as indicated inFigs. 4 and5.

It is deemed desirable, but not absolutely necessary, that awire-retaining cleat 52 be secured to the inner surface of each outercasing wall (36, 42) as indicated at 53, adjacent the wire outlet hole5| to prevent the wires 59, 55, etc., from being pulled from theassociated mercury tube switch .51. Also, the wire-retaining cleats 5'2serve to so position the wires '59, 50 as to offer a.

assume minimum of resistance to rocking of the mercury tube-carryingshafts 50.

Referring to Fig. 3, the wires 59a, 60a leading outwardly from themercury switch 5'! of the casing section 31 are attached to the sameterminal pieces 64, 65 which are secured to the free ends of the switchwires 59, '60 which lead from the mercury switch 51 of the companioncasing section 3 I.

The respective terminal pieces 64, 65 are secured on binding posts 64a,65a. The binding posts 64a, 65a are carried by the insulation materialdisc 66 which is secured to the side wall 36 of the casing section 3| bymeans of a screw or the like 61, as best shown in Fig. 2.

So long as the fabric [3 is unbroken and is being supplied to theneedles H, as shown in Fig. 1, the feeler arms 52 will be maintained inthe position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This means that the drop of mercury51a in each tube will be kept at the lower end thereof remote from theterminals 58 (see Fig. 9). Thus, the circuit to the stop motion releasewill be open. However, if one of the material strips I3 should run outor if a torn place should pass the feeler arm 52, the latter would dropcausing the related mercury switch 5'! to move clockwise (Fig. 4) tocause the mercury 51a to close the circuit at the tubecontained contacts58.

The stop motion release may take the form of a solenoid controlled latch10 for retaining normally disengaged drive clutch elements in operativeengagement, or 10 may be a signal.

The outer wall of each casing section has the cleat H above thesubjacent feeler arm 52 so as to prevent the feeler arm from beingactuated very far from contact with the fabric 13.

Also, the side wall of each casing section 31, 3'! has a keeper 12secured thereto adjacent its rear wall 4| (or 35). This keeper 12 has anupper arm which is adapted to be bent inwardly against the adjacentouter wall of the related casing section when the associated feeler 52is to be used so as to admit of operation of same. Each keeper 12 alsohas a lower arm I4 to limit clockwise movement of the adjacent feelerarm when the fabric runs out (see Fig. 2).

When only one piece of fabric I3 is being supplied to the sewing machine10 then only one of the feeler arms 52 would be used and the other wouldbe raised above the top arm 13 of the keeper 12 and the latter would bebent out at right angles to the adjacent side wall of the casing, asindicated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The wiring diagram, Fig. 9, shows that the circuit to the solenoid latch10 can be closed through either of the mercury switches 51. Battery 15has one side grounded as at 7'! while its other side is attached tobinding post 64 of disc 66. The other binding post 65 of said disc 66has leading from it the wire 18 which is in circuit with the solenoidlatch 10, one side of which latter is grounded as indicated at 19. Asimple battery powered circuit has been shown by way of example butother circuits are obviously available.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A switch for the circuit of a stop motion device for a, moving web ofmaterial comprising an adjustably mountable casing, said switch casingconsisting of two interfitting half sections, sleeve bushings mounted inand extending outwardly from the side walls of each half section of thecasing, rock shafts mounted in said bushings, switches mounted on theinner ends of the rock shafts within the casing, web feeler armsattached to the outer ends of the rock shafts and extending outwardlypast the rear face of the switch casing and adapted to extend toward themate rial, weights on the free ends of the feeler arms tending to movethe arms to switch closing position, and an L-shaped bracket having itsshorter leg adjustably attached to the rear wall of the switch casingand having its longer leg extending from the rear wall of the casing andadapted to be adjustably mounted whereby the feeler arms can beadjustably positioned with respect to the material being fed.

AUSTIN E. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,389,998 Seymour et a1 Sept. 6,1921 1,641,658 Berglund Sept. 6, 1927 1,769,771 Cronetta July 1, 19301,834,430 Smith Dec. 1, 1931 1,948,634 Ross et al. Feb. 27, 19342,042,827 Briggs June 2, 1936 2,192,819 Smith Mar. 5, 1940 2,204,695Pond June 18, 1940 2,274,268 Hercik Feb. 24, 1942 2,430,893 Todd Nov.18, 1947

